Be sure to look at our guides to outdoor gear, like the Best Day-Hiking Packs, Best Tents, Best Sleeping Bags, Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads, Best Rain Jackets, Best Backpacking Water Filters, Best Merino Wool, and Best Binoculars. Check out our guides to the Best Sleeping Bags and the Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads. Photograph: Scott GilbertsonREI Co-op's Magma 15 is our favorite bag for shoulder-season trips when the temps might drop more than expected. There are lighter quilts out there, but when you need the warmth of a mummy bag on those colder nights, this is the best sleeping bag I've tested. This filter eliminated the pumping and returned my sanity, which is why it's our favorite backpacking water filter for large groups.